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Sainz: P3 could be possible in 2017

Toro Rosso could be in for a bumper season in 2017 with Carlos Sainz saying third may be possible given the new rules and their return to Renault power.

This year, using a year-old Ferrari engine, Toro Rosso are sixth in the championship, three points ahead of McLaren.

They have set out a target of finishing fifth, which currently belongs to Force India, who are 36 points to the good.

Should Toro Rosso overhaul Force India it would be their best-ever finish in the Constructors’ standings.

Sainz, though, reckons next year they can aim even higher.

“We keep talking about this P5 in Championship, but next year, everything we said, we could well be 8th or 3rd, so we need to stay calm and wait until next year to see where we are,” Sainz told Crash.net.

“Hopefully Renault will keep making the steps and we have a decent power unit. We are struggling to find that at the moment.

“The car that they produced in the last two seasons from the chassis side has been a surprise to everyone and many people are impressed about it.

“So it’s just now a matter of sorting out all the small details to become an even better team and I think we can do that next year.”